Webinar topic:

 Kia kurupākara anō te Reo – the growth and benefits of teaching te reo Māori at tertiary level

Two iconic teachers of te reo Māori who were recognised for their expertise by being awarded the Te Whatu Kairangi Prime Minister's Award in 2023 and 2024 respectively, will reflect on the journey to establish te reo Māori in tertiary institutes across the nation, and discuss the importance and benefits of its teaching not only to tertiary learners but to the community as well.

The discussion will be mainly in te reo Māori.

Presenters: 

Hiria Tumoana

Hiria is a Senior Lecturer/Kaiwhakaako for Te Ūranga Waka (School of Māori Studies), Faculty of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences at EIT. Her tribe is Ngāi Tūhoe. Her marae are Tauarau, Waikirikiri, Ōhotu, and Ngāhina. 

She is an icon in the Māori world for her life-time commitment to, and achievements in the revitalisation and teaching of the Māori language which dates to the 1972 Te Reo Māori Petition. She is a native speaker, was raised in her traditional tribal setting of Tuhoe, studied linguistics, and has a passion and gift for teaching the Māori language. In 1998, she gained a highly prestigious role at the Māori Language Commission as an examiner. Hiria has taught at EIT for some 40 years and is highly sought after by students. She appeals to mixed generations of youth, adults and elders. She uses a blend of traditional and modern pedagogies; and has inspired thousands of learners in contexts from traditional classrooms to marae, to Māori radio. Her teaching approach is direct and injected with humour.

In 2024 Hiria was the inaugural winner of the Te tohu reo Māori award and joint Prime Minister’s Educator of the Year at the Te Wahatu Kairangi Awards.

Dr Ēnoka Murphy

Kāti, ko Ēnoka Murphy ahau. I have been a teacher, lecturer of Te Reo Māori for over 35 years, teaching at all levels, Kōhanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Māori, Secondary, University and Wānanga. It has been an incredible privilege to be a part of so many people’s lives and educational Te Reo Māori journeys. They have been my greatest teachers. 

I am presently Professor of Te Reo Māori at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi which is a new space for me along with learning new skills. The teaching of Te Reo Māori in tertiary spaces was fought for and has a tumultuous history, working in this space for many years I have experienced the many challenges and look forward to sharing the victories especially of that journey.

Ēnoka was the Prime Minister’s Educator of the Year at the 2023 Te Wahatu Kairangi Awards.

Tuia Te Ako 2025 Webinar Series

The Tuia Te Ako Webinar series started in 2020 and continues to feature some of the iconic thought leaders in the tertiary education sector, as part of the Ako Aotearoa Mātauranga Māori programme. This year we feature both Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti guest speakers. 

The theme that runs through them all is that of Titiro Whakamuri: Titiro Whakamua – Looking to the past and looking to the future.

We will be asking our thought leaders to reflect on the recent past in their various areas of expertise and interest, and to cast an eye to the future. 

We start with a panel of Tangata Tiriti speakers focussing on our Te Tiriti o Waitangi programme of activity; then two tertiary Te Reo Māori educators who were recipients of the Te Whatu Kairangi Prime Minister’s Award; and finish with the CE of a Work Development Council which has recently released publications about the important contribution of Māori, Pacific and Disabled learners to the economy.

About Tuia Te Ako

First held in August 2010, Tuia Te Ako is a gathering for Māori and non-Māori teachers, lecturers, pastoral carers, policy & programme developers, researchers and training practitioners throughout New Zealand to share existing models of good teaching practice with a focus on assisting whānau, hapū, iwi, and Māori communities to achieve their aspirations.

A chance for all people interested in advancing achievement for Māori to come together to share in discussion and debate on a range of issues that impact on the success of Māori learners.